Balqon Gets Electric Truck Grant for Port Drayage Applications

January 08, 2013

Balqon Corp., a developer of electric vehicles, drive systems and lithium battery storage devices, announced $925,000 in funds earmarked for Balqon Corp. by the Department of Energy to develop three on-road electric trucks, Model MX-30 for use at the Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

According to Air Quality Management District Board minutes, Balqon would provide three battery electric trucks with 100-mile range and a DC fast charger utilizing 500 kilowatt-hour lithium battery energy storage unit. Demonstration of DC Charging using battery energy storage is expected to reduce charging costs and charge time for heavy-duty electric trucks.

This project will help us develop and demonstrate short charge times by using lithium battery energy storage systems we have developed for renewable and energy storage industries, said Balwinder Samra, CEO of Balqon Corporation.

AQMD will be the administrator of this grant with final contracts with the DOE and AQMD is expected to be signed during the first quarter of 2013.